2. Contact Info

3. Dealer Selection

’97 Honda CR-VHonda’s adorable sport/cute has proven to offer a good combination of people-toting space, flexible cargo hauling, and fuel economy. The surprisingly commodious interior offers more second-row room than most compact sport/utes. The CR-V stands as an interesting contrast to our long-term Montero Sport, offering similar packaging space and acceleration for $10,000 less, albeit with fewer luxuries and less SUV cachet. The CR-V’s all-wheel-drive system and respectable ground clearance have been exploited on duck hunting outings, mountain climbing expeditions, and traversing flooded urban sprawl in the aftermath of El Nio. However, the burdened, small-displacement engine works hard to accelerate from stoplights, merge onto highways, and ascend long hills. On strenuous climbs, the four-speed automatic hunts around for the right gearing to squeeze the most torque from the diminutive powerplant, inspiring some editors to manually shift into D3 on such inclines. Seats have received mixed reviews, with long-distance drivers desiring more padding on the firm perches. Following the recommendation of the instrument cluster service indicator, we stopped by our dealer for a $60.77 first visit.

Base price

$20,400

Price as tested

$21,966

Body style

4-door, 5-pass.

Engine size/type

2.0-liter I-4

Transmission/driveline

configuration

4-speed auto./

front engine, all-wheel drive

0-60 mph, sec.

11.7

EPA mpg, city/hwy.

22/25

Total mileage

9252

Test mileage

9028

Fuel consumed, gal.

419.6

Fuel cost

$536.53

Average mpg

21.5

Additional oil/cost

None

Routine maint.

$60.77

Additional maint.

None

Previous maint.

None

Problem areas

None

Total operating cost

$597.30

Operating cost/mile

6.6

’97 Mitsubishi Montero Sport LSEver a head turner, the stylish two-tone Montero Sport continues to make a strong first impression with all who encounter it. Similarly, nearly each driver has commented on the firm suspension that transfers excessive unwanted road harshness into the cabin. The upside of the taut setup is a responsive feel enhanced by smooth, well-weighted steering. The lack of power to support the “Sport” name and aggressive appearance is a frequent logbook topic. While the 3.0-liter V-6 may be well-suited to the 3435-pound base model, it is challenged by the 3945-pound weight of our tester. The sport/ute’s versatility has been helpful toting family members and their assorted gear, with the flat-folding 60/40-split rear bench proving quite handy. Some passengers have found the side-mounted step bars more of a hindrance than a help. Entering its final leg of the 12-month evaluation, the Montero Sport remains trouble-free. The only blemish on an otherwise perfect record was when a couple chrome letters from the rear hatch abandoned ship in a car wash.

Base price

$23,970

Price as tested

$31,125

Body style

4-door, 5-pass.

Engine size/type

3.0-liter V-6

Transmission/driveline

configuration

4-speed auto./

front engine, four-wheel drive

0-60 mph, sec.

11.4

EPA mpg, city/hwy.

18/21

Total mileage

13,870

Test mileage

12,570

Fuel consumed, gal.

667.9

Fuel cost

$852.46

Average mpg

18.8

Additional oil/cost

1 qt/$2.25

Routine maint.

None

Additional maint.

None

Previous maint.

$88.60

Problem areas

None

Total operating cost

$943.31

Operating cost/mile

7.5

’98 Toyota Camry XLEA well-appointed Camry XLE recently joined our long-term stable with a host of features, including power windows/door locks/mirrors, air conditioning, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, six-speaker CD stereo, dual power seats, and an alarm system. Building on the $24,868 base price, we added a power moonroof ($1000), traction control system ($300), floor mats ($148), and upgraded to a 3-in-1 AM/FM/CD/cassette head unit ($180). Mileage has racked up quickly on the sedate sedan for good reason: It’s smooth, quiet, refined, and delightful to drive. The softly sprung suspension provides levels of isolation normally attributed to true luxury cars, while still holding the road commendably. The silky 192-horsepower V-6 propels the sedan 0-60 mph in a brief 7.8 seconds, which, combined with Lexus-like steering, helps make the Camry feel worth its heady as-tested price. One editor wrote in the logbook, “This car is practically flawless.” Key word: practically. Initial criticism pinpoints intrusive A-pillar wind noise at highway speeds and uninspired interior styling. After all, nobody’s perfect, right?

The Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry are the feudal lords of the automotive world, the shoguns of the sales charts, the WWF wrestlers of the year-end tallies. Every year each scraps tooth-and-nail to finish at the top of the heap-as the number-one best-selling car in America. Typically, it's been the Taurus and Accord in a fierce two-horse race…

To merely say that the Camry has been a successful model for Toyota is like saying that Michael Jordan has been able to sink a few baskets now and then or that Bill Gates has been able to put away a little money for a rainy day.Throughout the '90s, the Camry's been the second-best-selling import vehicle-car or truck-behind only the…